Identification of virus isolates inducing mosaic of sugarcane in Makarfi Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Nigeria

Abstract

Sugarcane mosaic disease caused by sugarcane mosaic virus (SCMV), Johnsongrass mosaic virus (JGMV), maize dwarf mosaic virus (MDMV) and sorghum mosaic Virus (SrMV) is an economically important viral disease of sugarcane worldwide. Field survey was conducted to assess the presence of the viruses involve in mosaic disease of sugarcane in Makarfi Local Government Areas of Kaduna State (Northern Guinea Savannah), Nigeria. A range of symptoms were observed on the  infected land races from the pale green stripes to yellow chlorotic stripes on a dark green background. The purple land race (“Bakarkwama”) was highly susceptible followed by green land race (“Bahausa”) and the least infected was the white land race (“fararkwama”). 63 symptomatic and asymptomatic sugarcane leaves and stem juice extract from 14 villages of Makarfi L.G.A. were screened for the four viruses using DAS and TAS ELISA methods. SCMV, MDMV and SrMV were detected from both symptomatic and asymptomatic sugarcane leaf samples whereas JGMV was not detected in the locations sampled. SCMV isolate has the highest incidence (83%) from all the locations followed by SrMV (10%) and MDMV (5%) isolates. Mixed infections of the three viruses were also detected in some samples. This is the first report of identification of virus isolates inducing sugarcane disease in one of the major sugarcane producing areas of the Northern Guinea Savannah of Nigeria.

Keywords: Sugarcane, SCMV, MDMV, SrMV, TAS-ELISA, DAS-ELISA

African Journal of Biotechnology, Vol 13(12), 1351-1357